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By Dan Fastnedge and Melissa L Gould* of Controversial advertising holds a mirror up to society. It can unite us in laughter or outrage, spark debates that shape our beliefs - and sometimes expose our political differences. But where do lines of acceptability or offensiveness get drawn? Earlier this year the New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced the percent7E:text=1.,our percent20pizza percent20for percent20meat percent20lovers. percentE2 percent80 percent9D most complained about ads ever. Categories ranged from political advocacy to household products. And the most complained about spot belonged to Hell Pizza's "Lust condom" mailers. The brand's "Hell Crossed Buns" billboard came in third. This is not surprising, given the brand is often in the hea...

Photo: Unsplash An Auckland hospitality entrepreneur hopes to flip the New Zealand culture of 'no tipping' at bars and restaurants. Luke Dallow told Morning Report a struggling economy means many hospitality spots are employing fewer waiters, so diners are getting slack service. With the cost of goods and rents increasing, something needs to change, he said. "And what is controllable is wages. My concept would be to reduce the menu price on the menu, then that would get more consumers into the restaurants or bars. "Now to top this up you would tip, encourage tipping." He said it would mean minimum wage plus tips for wait staff, though Dallow's maths could be a bit off. "Minimum wage is $24 or I think it's roughly around that at the moment, and a waitress or waiter could easily make $10 i...

The Tāhunanui Slump is one area covered by the slope risk overlay and now insurers appear to be retreating from properties in the area. Photo: Supplied / Nelson City Council Proposed hazard maps for Nelson are allegedly preventing properties across the city from being insured. The claim has been put to the commissioners overseeing the hearing for the city council's controversial overhaul of its planning rules. The original maps the council put out for consultation included several areas shaded with flooding, inundation, fault hazard, and slope risk overlays. One Rocks Road resident, whose home falls within the slope risk overlay, said that her property has never failed to be insured until the council put out its map for consultation. "It has essentially rendered our property uninsura...

Photo: 123RF There are more men named Mark than there are women chief executives of companies listed on the NZSX - despite one university professor saying young women are "significantly better" at business. A survey of the companies listed on the NZX shows that there are nine that have a chief executive named Mark - Mark Freeman at the Australian Foundation Investment Company, Mark Francis at Asset Plus, Mark Aue at Chorus, Mark Heine at Eroad, Mark Troughyear at Freightways, Mark Turnbull at Foley Wines, Mark Winter at My Food Bag, Mark Peterson at the NZX and Mark Malpass at Steel & Tube. There had been 10 - Mark Lucas was chief executive at beleaguered Cannasouth, until he resigned from the company in April. In comparison, there are six women across the board - Carrie Hurihanganui...

Photo: 123RF AMP Wealth Management NZ says it is well on its way to driving growth in its Global Climate Fund, with an international investment in partnership with US-based investment company BlackRock. AMP has made an initial capital investment of $28 million into BlackRock's Global Renewable Power Fund IV, which was focused on Canadian-based solar energy operation Recurrent Energy and German commercial and industrial solar start-up Enviria. AMP general manager Aaron Klee said it was committed to investing about $75m in global private markets and was looking to double that amount and invest $150m in New Zealand-based renewable energy infrastructure by the end of the year. "Most retail customers aren't able to participate in private equity investments of this nature due to the high barri...